The Reading and Writing Journey Approach

Teachers select quality, inspiring texts from pre-approved lists. These lists are supported by organisations such as the CLPE and Literacy Shed.

In each year, the following units are taught: 3 novels (including one traditional story or tale), 3 poetry units, and 3 visual literacy units (based on video, picture books or graphic novels).

From this, teachers:

• Plan a range of activities and high quality questioning based on specific reading skills.
• Support this through discreet reading skills lessons.
• Study the style of the text and its main features, and support children to use similar features within their own writing.
• Plan appropriate and engaging fiction writing opportunities in a similar style.
• Plan appropriate non-fiction writing opportunities in response to the text.
• Make links to grammar and spelling teaching and provide opportunities for children to embed this within longer written pieces.

Furthermore, teachers use a whole school non-fiction progression framework to ensure that non-fiction writing builds throughout all year groups. In many cases, teachers use learning from foundation subjects, science and religious education to stimulate ideas for non-fiction writing, or follow on from their reading journey. Each year group teaches 6 genres of non-fiction writing: Discussion, Persuasive, Instruction, Explanation, Information and Recount.